VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' GAMBRELL HEADLINES 'SUPER 7' AS 2015-16 "FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR" (7 PHOTOS) (2016-06-23)Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY — Being a state champ in one sport and first-team all-state in another is tough to top, earning Athens sophomore Breana Gambrell the 2015-16 Valley Sports Report “Female Athlete of the Year.”

A speedy and hard-nosed defender, Gambrell was the last line of defense for an Athens team that posted a 17-3 record. She was named first-team all-state defense, and obviously was named to VSR’s “All-Valley” team.

During the winter season, she started and was a key defender on the Lady Wildcat girls basketball team that advance to the District 4, Class AAA semifinals.

But it was the spring season that separated Gambrell from the pack. Once again, Gambrell qualified for the PIAA Championships in four events, and for the second year in a row, she brought home two medals, including another gold medal in the long jump with a school-record leap of 19-feet, 4 3/4-inches, to give her four medals in her career.

Gambrell was dominant throughout the season, despite battling a nagging leg injury early on. She consistently won three or four events during the dual season, capping the NTL season with four gold medals at the league meet.

She currently holds the school record in the long jump and triple jump, and was a part of this year’s record-setting 400-meter relay team that earned a fifth-place medal at States.

The remainder of the 2015-16 “Super 7” is as follows:

Paige Wampole, senior, Sayre: Wampole was also a three-sport standout, with defense being her forte.

In the fall, Wampole was a second-team all-NTL goalkeeper.

On the hardwoods, Wampole was a dominating presence in the low post and steadily improved offensively, ending her high school career with the ability to knock down short jumpers and use a variety of moves around the bucket to score.

The VSR “Player of the Year,” she averaged 12.5 points per game and led the region in rebounding with 13.8 boards per game. She also displayed good court vision and averaged 2.6 assists per game.

Possessing deceptive quickness, Wampole neutralized nearly all inside games the Lady Redskins ran up against and was also the “Defensive Player of the Year." She blocked 3.8 shots per game and altered many, many more, and averaged 2.3 steals per game.

A top-notch defender on the softball diamond, Wampole was named “Defensive Player of the Year.” She hit .406 (26 hits in 64 ABs) with four doubles, one home run, 15 RBI, 10 runs scored, and five stolen bases.Elle Nittinger, sophomore, Waverly: Nittinger also excelled in three sports, with offense a big part of her game.

In the fall, she was a first-team all-IAC soccer performer and a member of the VSR “All-Valley” team. Strong, physical and fast, Nittinger scored 17 goals and dished out 12 assists.

On the hardwoods, Nittinger led the Valley in scoring and was the 2015-16 “Offensive Player of the Year.” She displayed the ability to score in every facet of the game, whether it’s behind the 3-point arc, driving to the hoop, in transition or by hitting the offensive boards.

Nittinger averaged 19 points and 6 rebounds per game and knocked down 39 3-pointers on the season.

During the spring season, Nittinger was a consistent point-getter for the Lady Wolverines’ track & field team.

In the postseason, Nittinger was on Waverly’s fourth-place 1,600-meter relay team at the IAC divisional meet and finished fifth in the 800-meter run.At the IAC Championships, Nittinger finished sixth in the discus, and eight in the 800-meter run.

At the Section IV, Class B meet, Nittinger was double-winner, winning the 800-meter run and running on the first-place 3,200-meter relay team. She finished 13th in the 800 at the Section IV Championships.

Malley Bowen, senior, Tioga: While the ‘Super 7’ is normally reserved for three-sport standouts, Bowen makes her case as a rare two-sport gem — with a first-team all-state nod and a bronze medal.

In the fall, Bowen capped a stellar high school volleyball career by leading the Lady Tigers to the state semifinals for the second time in three years. She was named first-team all-state and was the VSR “Volleyball Player of the Year."

Bowen, a tremendous all-around athlete, is a leader on the floor for the Lady Tigers She is a skilled setter and a dynamic hitter as well. She led Tioga with 210 service points and 371 setter assists, was second on the team with 138 kills and 99 digs and also had 19 blocks.

In the spring, Bowen, who narrowly missed a trip to States in the 100-meter hurdles as a junior, was a force in the IAC during the regular season, routinely winning three or four events at duals. At the IAC Championships, she won the 100 hurdles, was second in long jump and pole vault, and third in triple jump.

Bowen won the 100-meter hurdles and pole vault at the Class C meet and finished seventh in the triple jump. She won the 100-meter hurdles at Section IV meet.

She finished third at States in the 100-meter hurdles, and graduates as school record-holder in 100-meter hurdles and the triple jump — an event she only participated in four times.

Morgan Westbrook, senior, Athens: Westbrook capped a brilliant four-year career at Athens with another strong showing in three sports.

Quick and long with great instincts, Westbrook displays rare athleticism in the net for the Lady Wildcats. She was first-team all-NTL goalkeeper, as well as a member of the VSR “All-Valley” team.

Westbrook, who will be playing basketball collegiately at Mansfield, is ultra-athletic and a top-notch defender. She was lethal in transition, but she could also knock down the mid-range jumper and take the ball to the bucket.

Westbrook averaged 11.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.1 assists per game. She was named to the “All-Valley Super 7.”

At the NTL Track & Field Championships, Westbrook displayed her versatility, finishing second in the javelin, and third in the 300-meter dash. She finished 14th in the javelin at the District 4 Championships.Wendi Hammond, freshman, Waverly: The 2015-16 “Female Newcomer of the Year,” Hammond was an impact player in three sports at Waverly.

In her second varsity season, Hammond was second-team all-IAC on defense for the Lady Wolverines soccer team, as well as a member of the VSR “All-Valley” team.

After playing in a handful of games at the varsity level as an 8th-grader, Hammond was a first-team all-IAC performer on the hardwoods. She was also a member of the VSR girls basketball “Super 7” and the “Newcomer of the Year.”

This spring, she was a first-team all-IAC selection on the diamond. In her first year in the pitcher’s circle, Hammond posted a 9-8 record with one save and a 1.77 ERA. She allowed 99 hits and walked 28 in 106 1/3 innings, while striking out 94.

Offensively, Hammond hit .348 on the season (24 hits in 69 ABs) with two doubles and two triples, and five RBI. She scored 26 runs and stole 10 bases.Katelyn Stubbs, senior, Tioga: Stubbs capped a stellar career at Tioga by being named all-IAC in three sports.

Last fall, Stubbs was a first-team Division III field hockey all-star selection for the Lady Tigers.

An athletic all-around player, Stubbs led the Lady Tigers with 3.1 assists, 2.5 steals, 2.4 assists per game and 25 free throws. She was second on the team with 8.6 points per game and 26 3-pointers. She earned a second-team all-IAC nod on the hardwoods.

A very good defensive shortstop, Stubbs hit .485 (33 hits in 68 Abs) with 41 runs scored and 17 RBI. She graduates as the school record-holder with 46 runs scored in a season, second on the all-time list for hits in a season with 38, and and third all time in career runs scored with 147. She was a first-team all-IAC pick on the diamond.